POLO THE LATEST HOLIDAY ATTRACTION

Long gone are the days when a hotel was just an hotel. Now, they have to be spas, golf resorts, sailing centres, scuba do’s and relaxation retreats, with a constant search for the next attraction to add value.

And in Marrakesh, the latest is polo. A new development, the Jnan Amar Polo Resort,  is to be centred around a luxury 5-star hotel, with spa, and 76 private villas, each with their own exclusive amenities. These are set within a 40 hectare site that will offer an exclusive polo club in its own impressive grounds, a club house and an equestrian club.

Thought to have been started in Persia, or maybe China, the game of polo was taken up by the British in India during the days of the Raj, given formal rules and imported to England in the mid 1800s. From there it became established throughout Western Europe and on to the U.S.

Seen as something of a game for toffs, albeit hardy ones, by virtue of the money needed to keep a string of polo ponies, it has become rather more egalitarian of late. But Katie Price, aka model Jordan, a keen horsewoman, was denied entrance to last year’s Cartier Polo match at Windsor on the grounds that she was “not the right sort of person” (see more below) . 

This new ground is the first residential polo project to be built in Morocco, and will have the Atlas mountains as a stunning backdrop. It has been designed to appeal to even the most demanding of polo players and polo fans, and will afford a year-round polo season by virtue of Morocco’s temperate climate. Residences from £1.16M. For more information gaynorl@hamptons-int.com

POLO AT THE BRITISH SHOWJUMPING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Back in Britain, Katie Price, above, will be taking part in a celebrity arena polo match at the British Open Show Jumping Championships in April. To be staged on Sunday 19th, it will have leading polo players as well as celebrity captains of each team. The final of the British Open Show Jumping Championship will also take place that day. www.britishopenshowjumping.com

UNKNOWN HOTSPOT TIPPED FOR SUMMER SUCCESS

Will Fujairah be the new holiday hotspot for 2009?  Where is it, you may well ask.

One of the lesser known names of the United Arab Emirates, it runs along the Indian Ocean rather than the Gulf, with tranquil beaches and prime diving facilities.

The weak pound means that the British are looking for new destinations and the Middle East is already seeing an increase in visitors. Dubai has been the number one destination but others are now starting to attract attention, and Middle East travel specialist, Rotana, believes this could turn into “an explosion of visitors” this year.

“We predict that in 2009 Britons, in particular, will be looking to try something new and different in the Middle East,” forecasts Selim El Zyr, of Rotana. “Abu Dhabi has been increasing in popularity for a while now and this will increase dramatically when the first F1 Grand Prix is held in the city."

But for those looking for an authentic Middle Eastern experience, he recommends other destinations such as Syria, Lebanon or Kuwait.

It may take a little longer for there to be an explosion of interest in Rotana’s latest hotel venture, in Baghdad. While the five-star, luxury property, within the International Green Zone, boasts every convenience, it is likely to be a while before Brits stop associating this destination with a rather different sort of explosion.

BIG ADVENTURE IN THE MOUNTAINS

Those seeking a Boys Big Adventure for a holiday may be suited by the latest offering from Mountain Kingdoms.

This escape from endless financial revelations offers a t hree-month overland trip to India and the Himalayas, through northern Europe, Ukraine, Russia, the ‘-stans’, China and Pakistan, a route available to the public for the first time.

The price, of £13,995, includes most accommodation, which will be a mix of wild camping, guesthouses and hotels, transport costs, a five-day Himalayan trek, a tour of Rajasthan, and the flight home from Mumbai. Clients are advised to budget an additional £3,000 to cover additional accommodation, meals and a training weekend plus other ancillary expenses. Two expedition leaders/mechanics will accompany the party and organise all necessary permits/visas.

Go to www.mountainkingdoms.com for a detailed itinery.